14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has reportedly begun to reject iOS apps that allow users to purchase content from outside the company’s App Store. One such application is Sony’s eReader app, which would have directed customers to its Reader Store.
According to the New York Times, Apple has told several applications developers, including Sony, that they can no longer sell content outside the App Store, or let customers access purchases made outside the venue.
The report notes that Apple rejected Sony's eReader application because it would have let people buy and read e-books from the Sony Reader Store.
Reportedly, Apple told Sony that all in-app purchases now have to go through Apple, suggesting this may be a recent policy change.
The NY Times cites Steve Haber, president of Sony's digital reading division, as the source of this information.
Needless to point out, it is believed that Amazon’s Kindle application is next in line to get rejected, should this actually be a change in policy. Another such app is the popular Barnes & Noble NOOK.
However, it is not yet clear exactly why Apple rejected Sony’s app, given that no official statement has been made by Apple.
It is believed that if Apple were to block the Kindle app from recognizing content bought through Amazon (therefore outside iTunes) that would be a change of policy.
Notably, neither Apple, nor Amazon accepted to comment upon request, leaving the “rejected” Sony dishing out their opinions on the matter.
As such, until Apple removes the Kindle app from its App Store, we can safely say that the company hasn’t taken any new decisions regarding these business models.
Perhaps it is worth noting that Sony’s Reader device uses an interface akin to that of the iTunes Store to purchase books from Sony eBook library (currently available to US and Canada residents only).
The Reader can also display Adobe PDFs, ePub format, RSS newsfeeds, JPEGs, and Sony's proprietary BBeB ("BroadBand eBook") format, as well a play MP3 and unencrypted AAC audio files.